Pre-Birth to Three: Positive Outcomes for Scotland's Children and Families

This guidance document acts as a foundation for a child’s future learning and development, taken forward in Curriculum for Excellence, and is based on the concept that care and learning are inseparable, mirroring the values within the Early Years Framework. The guidance is for all those involved in caring for babies and very young children. This includes early years workers, social care and health practitioners. Pre-Birth to Three identifies Rights of the Child, Relationships, Responsive Care and Respect as the key principles of effective practice. These principles support sensitive and well-informed approaches to this age group and beyond.

The guidance should be interpreted and adapted to suit each professional’s context. It does not provide a list of the right ways to behave and interact with babies and young children, but it does suggest particular approaches and ways of interacting which are beneficial, most importantly for the children themselves, but also for the adults responsible for them. This guidance can help to:

Build confidence of those new to working with young children and allow time to think and not just do.

Act as a tool for raising awareness and promoting collaboration across different sectors.

Inform the ways in which children and their families are supported.

Using examples and prompts for discussion and reflection for those who are involved in caring for babies and very young children, the guidance supports the planning and delivery of quality services for children in the earliest years.

Who is it for?

The care and wellbeing of children is everyone’s concern. The guidance is valuable for those working directly with very young children (including everyone from nursery staff and childminders to parents).